LAKELAND, Fla. — Residents living on Oakmont Lane are starting to see some relief Friday as Polk County continues to pump floodwater from their homes.

The water is from Lake Seward’s basin, which residents say was dry until September.

What You Need To Know

  • Residents near Lake Seward face unprecedented flooding due to recent hurricanes

  • Polk County had previous feasibility reports since the 1990s that outlined possible flood mitigation strategies

  • A pumping operation is underway to manage floodwaters, but residents seek clarity on recovery options

Hillsborough County firefighter Jarrod Smith, who moved to the area in 2015, said drainage from nearby neighborhoods started to fill the basin around the time of Hurricane Helene. Then the water rose much higher when Hurricane Milton hit the area.

“What we have now is record-setting. People who have lived here for 45 years have never seen this,” Smith said. “And to see it like this is definitely defeating and frustrating.”

To make matters worse, Smith says the damage to his and his neighbors' homes was avoidable. Feasibility reports by Polk County dating from the 1990s detail ways the county could have reduced flooding in the area.

“From my knowledge and everything that I’ve seen, and heard from the neighbors and residents, and paperwork from the Polk County website, they’ve chosen to do none of them,” he said.

Polk County’s Roads and Drainage Director Jay Jarvis said plans for a permanent pumping station were placed on the county’s unfunded projects list because the area experienced a dry period without major flooding. Jarvis assures that Lake Seward is now a top priority, and officials are searching for a permanent solution.

As part of the county’s relief plan with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, contractors started pumping water from Lake Seward’s basin to the Banana Lake system, under U.S. Highway 98 and into Lake Hancock. Once the water reaches Lake Hancock, it becomes part of the larger volume of the lake and will ultimately flow through the P-11 control structure into Saddle Creek and beyond into the Peace River.

“Maybe it was a little late, but better late than never, is the saying. We’re happy that’s going on and we thank them for that. We’re very appreciative,” Smith said.

However, Smith says he and his neighbors are left with more questions.

“What’s the next step? What can we tell all these families here? Should they start rebuilding? Should they expect to get an offer from Polk County to buy their house?” he said.

Residents will have the opportunity to get answers during the Polk County Commission meeting on Nov. 5.